Pour sweet onion dressing over raw chicken thighs, accompanied by 3 extra things, into slow cooker for a tender weeknight dinner that's the first thing I suggest

This slow cooker 5-ingredient Amish sweet onion chicken is exactly the kind of weeknight dinner I suggest first when friends text me, “I’m exhausted, what can I dump in the crockpot?” It’s inspired by those simple, no-fuss Amish-style church supper recipes where you pour a flavorful bottled dressing over chicken, add just a few pantry staples, and let it turn into something magically tender by dinnertime. You literally layer raw chicken thighs in the slow cooker, pour sweet onion dressing over the top, toss in three extra things, and walk away. It’s cozy, a little sweet, super tender, and the kind of recipe that fits right into a busy workday without a lot of dishes or prep.

I like to spoon this sweet onion chicken over fluffy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles so all that sauce has somewhere to soak in. Steamed green beans or roasted carrots on the side keep it feeling like a classic meat-and-veg Midwest dinner. If you’re trying to keep it lighter, serve it with brown rice and a simple green salad. Leftovers are great tucked into a soft roll with a slice of Swiss cheese, or chopped and piled onto a baked potato with a little extra sauce drizzled over the top.

Servings: 4

2 to 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Place the slow cooker crock on a stable surface (picture a dark green laminate countertop) and lightly coat the bottom with nonstick spray if you like, for easier cleanup.

Lay the raw chicken thighs in an even layer in the bottom of the slow cooker. It’s fine if they overlap a little, but try to keep them mostly in a single layer so they cook evenly.

Scatter the thinly sliced yellow onion evenly over and around the chicken thighs so the slices can soften and melt into the sauce as it cooks.

Pour the sweet onion salad dressing evenly over the raw chicken thighs and onions, making sure every piece of chicken is coated. This is the key step: a generous pour of dressing right over the raw chicken in the slow cooker.

Pour the chicken broth around the edges of the chicken and onions, not directly on top, so you don’t rinse off too much of the dressing from the chicken.

Dot the butter pieces over the top of the chicken and onions. This adds richness and helps the sauce taste like it simmered all day on the stove.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the chicken thighs are very tender and easily pull apart with a fork.

Once cooked, taste the sauce and season with a little salt and black pepper if needed. The dressing and broth may already be salty enough, so adjust gently.

Use two forks to gently shred or chunk the chicken right in the slow cooker, or leave the thighs whole if you prefer. Stir to coat the chicken in the sweet onion sauce.

Serve the sweet onion chicken hot, spooning plenty of the onions and sauce over each portion. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If you want to lean into the sweet-and-savory vibe, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar or honey along with the dressing before cooking. For a slightly tangier version, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard into the dressing before pouring it over the chicken. You can swap boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the thighs, but reduce the cook time slightly (check around 4 hours on LOW or 2 hours on HIGH) so they don’t dry out. To make it creamier, stir in 1/4 to 1/3 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt at the very end, off the heat, for a silky sauce. For a more complete one-pot meal, add baby carrots or quartered baby potatoes around the chicken before pouring on the dressing, keeping in mind the cooker may need up to 30 extra minutes. If you’re meal-prepping, you can assemble everything (chicken, onions, dressing, broth, and butter) in a large freezer bag, freeze flat, then thaw overnight in the fridge and pour straight into the slow cooker in the morning.